Blogging for the Gray Wolf

Photo by Lynne Stone, Copyright 2011.

This is the face of trophy hunting, a wolf brutally shot to death for sport. A painful, horrific death.

Wolves don’t go quietly. Can you imagine this happening to your beloved dog? Since wolves and dogs share 99.8 percent of their DNA, it’s not hard to do.

I know it’s disturbing but this is what Montana and Idaho wolves are facing if the deal, brokered by the “10 settling groups” and USFWS. becomes reality. Or if Congress tacks a delisting rider onto the budget bill. Or if one of the myriad of anti-wolf bills squeaks through, all wolves could be delisted. Either way, wolves are under attack from all sides. It’s up to us to continue to fight for them.

The budget extension in Congress ends on April 8th. There could be another attempt to push a wolf delisting rider through. We have to gear up for the next push. I know everyone is emotionally exhausted, especially since the “settlement” was revealed on March 18th but that is out of our hands, it’s Judge Molloy’s decision. We have to focus on Congress and their wolf delisting antics.

Photo by Lynne Stone, Copyright 2011

In 2010 Montana added a wolf archery and back country wolf rifle season to their hunt. They also raised their quota from 75 to 186 wolves. Idaho’s bag of tricks included calling, baiting and trapping wolves, allowing snares and leg hold traps.

Who knows how much worse it will get? Idaho Governor Otter made these statements in October 2010.

Idaho Governor Rejects ESA Wolf Management

Posted on: 10/24/10

In another salvo of the wolf-wars, Idaho’s Governor Otter has ordered state wildlife managers to “relinquish their duty to arrest poachers or to even investigate when wolves are killed illegally.” Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Idaho wildlife officials are the “designated agent” for investigating wolf deaths in the state.

This means Idaho Department of Fish and Game managers will no longer perform statewide monitoring for wolves, conduct investigations into illegal killings, provide law enforcement when wolves are poached or participate in a program that responds to livestock depredations.

“First, for Montana’s northwest endangered wolves (north of Interstate 90), any livestock producers who kill or harass a wolf attacking their livestock will not be prosecuted by Montana game wardens. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) wardens will be directed to exercise their prosecutorial discretion by not investigating or citing anyone protecting their livestock.

Further, I am directing FWP to respond to any livestock depredation by removing whole packs that kill livestock, wherever this may occur.

Still further, to protect the elk herds in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley that have been most adversely affected by wolf predation, I am directing FWP, to the extent allowed by the Endangered Species Act, to cull these wolves by whole-pack removal to enable elk herds to recover.”

Whatever the 1o “settling groups” were thinking they weren’t thinking about the welfare of Idaho and Montana wolves!

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Hunting

Managing Wildlife

Unlike what some people might believe, hunting is not an effective method to manage and conserve wildlife. When left alone, nature is very capable of keeping a good balance. Natural predators kill off the sickest and weakest animals. And in cases of overpopulation, starvation and disease are nature’s (unfortunate) way of removing the weakest and bringing back a good balance.

Hunters don’t try to kill only the weaker animals. They often kill the strongest and healthiest animals. They prefer the bucks with the largest rack. The weaker and genetically inferior bucks are left to propagate the species, weakening the overall health of the herd. Killing of a large number of mature males also creates a disproportionate ratio of females to males, impacting the social structure of a herd.

Wolves are demonized for hunting elk, their natural prey but the haters forget to mention the destruction poachers do to wildlife. Wolves kill to survive, they benefit the ecosystem and provide food for other wildlife. What do these lowly slob hunters contribute?

From the Humane Society of the United States

December 29, 2010

Shocking Poaching Cases from 2010

Wildlife crimes ran the gamut from brazen to cowardly

Poaching is not only a crime of cruelty, it is a widespread but largely invisible problem. Many people have never heard the estimate that for every wild animal killed legally by hunters, another is killed illegally.

Wildlife poaching victims could total in the tens of millions annually.

Given that these offenses generally are committed in remote locations, it isn’t surprising that very few cases get solved, despite the skill and dedication of wildlife law enforcement.

To that end, we selected ten poaching cases out of the 56 we publicized—along with offered rewards—in 2010. The countdown provides a glimpse of the range of poaching crimes as well as the tactics some law enforcement agencies use to catch poachers.

Investigators with the Missouri Department of Conservation set up a taxidermy shop as part of an investigation into illegal hunting. In July they announced that 62% of the people who came into the shop with killed animals were in violation of the law.

Louisiana black bears are a threatened species and it is illegal to shoot one. That didn’t stop a poacher who shot and wounded a female Louisiana black bear so badly that she had to be euthanized. Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division are still looking for the perpetrator(s), and The HSUS has an outstanding $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

Florida is one of the states becoming more sophisticated in their efforts to combat poaching. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Internet Crimes Unit monitors websites, online bulletin boards, and social media forums to detect criminal activity. They target those who illegally sell wildlife online or who reveal their real-world wildlife crimes via the internet. In 2010 alone, this amazing team made 177 arrests.

A “thrill killer” illegally shot and killed four elk near Montesanto. Strong penalties for this particularly egregious category of poaching is a top priority for The HSUS and we are working on legislation to upgrade thrill-killing penalties.

In February, a female black bear was killed while hibernating in her den with her newborn cubs. It is believed that the poacher or poachers may have also taken the bear cubs. Officers with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are still looking for tips on this case. The HSUS has an outstanding $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

A young female sea otter was found dead along the beach in Morro Bay. A necropsy revealed that she had been shot in the head with a pellet gun. Wardens with The California Department of Fish and Game are still looking for the poacher or poachers responsible, and The HSUS has an outstanding $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

In October a red wolf, one of the most endangered wolves, was discovered dead at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife is still looking for the suspected poacher or poachers responsible for this case and two other illegal red wolf kills that took place in May 2010. The HSUS has an outstanding $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in all three killings.

Someone who signs his messages “Poacher X” sent images of his illegal kills, including an antelope and a deer, to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game along with a letter claiming that he poached those animals in Northern Idaho and that he “plans to do all his hunting like this from now on.” The HSUS has an outstanding $2,500 reward for information leading to Poacher X’s arrest and conviction.

The HSUS has an outstanding $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a cruel poaching case that took place near Salina, Utah. The eagle was severely injured and, despite treatment at the Southwest Wildlife Foundation in Cedar City, Utah, died of his injuries.

All wildlife law enforcement officers make sacrifices in their heroic efforts to protect wildlife. They work long hours and are usually paid less than other law enforcement, not to mention the risks of working in remote areas and approaching suspects who far more often than not are carrying a weapon. Those risks became a reality in the case of the tragic killing of David Grove, a wildlife conservation officer in Pennsylvania who, news reports say, was fatally shot while he was arresting a man for suspected illegal night hunting.

When in the(blank) will the federel gov. get their(blank) act together and do something? Never,I guess.Utah,Montana,and the rest do not want to obey the law, that is obvious,so why in the(blank) does the government allow it? Imagine if I drove 30 miles over the speed limit and be stopped by the police.Imagine if I told him that the rules of the road do not apply to me. Imagine what would happen to me.I would go straight to jail with no get out of jail card. I can’t do it,for it would be breaking the law. When did elected officals believe that they are above the law? It’s is so scary, strange that other Senators and the House just seem to avoid or just looking away at this alarming stance against the government. The President better step in and not drag his feet as he so often does..The House and Senators better listen to fact and science and not a bunch of people with one sided thinking or have tunnel vision. We are acting as if we are heading for a civil war and the poor wolves and other wild life the scapegoat.

I am so frustrated Rita. That’s why I posted the pics of that poor wolf. I want to remind people that the 10 groups that settled just handed Montana and Idaho wolves to wolf hunts and brutal state management. What in the world were they thinking? Wolves are once again the ultimate scapegoat and we can’t count on anyone but ourselves to help them. We’re on our own. Maybe that’s a good thing.

Nabeki,It is a good thing.Years ago,one would never had thought about speaking up/out against such travesty.One needs to stick together at these times for there is more hardships to come. It has never been easy to obtain the goal.It is not how fast we get to the finish line,our goal, but how we got there and the effort.We need to stick together,support and encourage each other,and be kept informed.I thank you and everyone that love the wolves and all wildlife.I know that I am not alone.We must keep deligent. For the Wild ones and all the places that they roam.

You are so right Rita, that’s why I felt so betrayed when those groups made a deal with the Interior. We don’t need to be fighting amongst ourselves. That’s what the anti’s want. It has made a terrible mess of things. But the grass roots movement has to continue to fight on. We have the support of four of the plaintiffs who refused to settle..Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, WWP and HSUS. This battle is not lost yet. We’ve been through a rough two years, the wolves have paid dearly for it. We have to stay united.

I love that picture…A GOOD wolf…
Had a little celebration tonight after learning there will be a hunt in September…Very good news
for ungulates….hopefully we will cut back to the minimum (100) and parvo will take care of the rest…
Thanks for posting the pic Lynne…Make sure you get pick up a couple dozen SD cards this fall…there should be plenty more photo ops…Ha..

P.S….mind sharing the story of the bloody wolf…did you try to take it>>>? Hmmmm

Antistone said: “there will be a hunt in September…Very good news
for ungulates….”

I don’t understand. How is a wolf hunt good for ungulates if humans are hunting them? Doesn’t stand out to be in the best interest from an ungulates point of view. Also, humans take out the biggest trophy ungulates, depleting the gene pool for the big guys, while wolves take out the old, sick and weak ungulates. So, which is better for the ungulates?? I’m lost with Antistones’ “thinking”. Someone help me please.

You can’t believe some of the comments I get g. That was just one out of thousands. Here’s a good example of one caught in my spam filter the other day. The theme is always the same. Wolves thrill kill, they eat elk fetuses, they’re coming after people, there are thousands of them in the Northern Rockies, wolf advocates are all big city dwellers and on and on. Of course these people know nothing about wolves and have probably never encountered a wild wolf in their lives. They just repeat this drivel over and over again.
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Submitted on 2011/04/28 at 9:01 am
Why no love for wolves? I Love how big city people are all for saving of the wolves but in all reality YOU DONT LIVE WITH THEM!!! Did you know that each wolf kills 2 animals a month for food and 2 for fun? They thrill kill!!! They will find a pregnant cow elk rip out her fetus and let her bleed to death…How morbid! We are losing 24,000 to 48,000 animals a year and its increasing 30% each year!…There are over 3000 wolves in the Idaho, Montana, Wyoming region alone…They reproduce at the rate of 24% to 35% per year! They are killing our natural food source…when they elk die out they will just adapt and kill different prey..including us and our familys…
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You will rarely see these comments. If I do let any of them through it’s just to make a point or give one of my readers a chance to respond to a post directed at them as in the case of LS.

im losing it i dont really know twhat to do anymore…something needs to happen in america so the hunting of wolves stop….wolves are going to disappear this is serious…i want to help i want to run and hide all wolves but i cant…im just a simple vet nurse student…if god is somewhere here listening…i hope he comes and helps….

yessenia….I know the feeling you have, it’s one of helplessness as we watch the events swirling around us. It was bad enough having to deal with the anti-wolf crowd but when the environmental groups start making deals with the Interior that’s a defining moment. IMO there was no reason to do that. It hasn’t changed anything. The anti wolf bills in Congress are still going forward. It was a very bad decision on their part. We just have to move past it and allow Judge Molloy to make his decision and see what happens next, I don’t think he will rule for those plaintiffs but we’ll have to wait and see. What we have to do now is focus on Congress and try and stop any riders they may try to attach to the budget bill or any of the anti wolf bills in committee. It’s a very tough situation to be in.

Lack of empathy Linda. Total lack of empathy. I posted those pics because I wanted people to see the reality of trophy hunting. This is what a dead, shot wolf looks like an it’s not pretty and it’s a very painful way to die. The fact this type of behavior is tolerated is just disgusting beyond measure.

This is the practice of gut shooting.
These cowards chose to intentionally shoot this animal in the gut, so it dies s slow death.
Some backwards punishment to the wolf.
The local officials along with the rubes who follow their insanity label this SSS.
It stands for ” shoot, shovel, shut up ”
You can find pics of these type of kills on the net of many animals, wolves, lions, and Bears with the backwards mentality that THEY are protecting wildlife and punishing “Enviros” as they like to call anyone who doesn’t agree.
They have even threatened to shoot Enviros if they can get away with it!
Nice image that Idaho, Montana, and the other States have, eh?
The problem is…, they’re not the only ones who know how to operate a weapon!
I predict gun battles to occur if our spineless Gov’T doesn’t step in and corral these morons.
How would these Cowards feel about something shooting back?

I am a little confused by the lack of info with the two photos of the dead wolf by Lynne Stone. Is this really a photo of a poached wolf or is this a Wildlife Services kill?
I see blood in several places on the wolf which would indicate a shotgun was used to kill this wolf. That is what Wildlife Services uses when they shoot from a helicopter.

still whatever it was and who ever it was, is not really the point the point is that wolves are being killed in the mos horrible ways and we need to fight against it, this is war poacher goverment people against us the ones that wants wolves alive. you can see clearly here that the wolf was hurt in the stomach his guts are out for christ sake so really you dont die right away when you get shot that way, they are making them suffer. we need to defend wolves and we need to be careful with what we say different things can be use against us. peace

I would so love that the WS,either State or Government, be abolished.They are the henchmen of the ranchers,and it comes off the backs of taxpayers;if the ranchers had to pay someone themselves,they just might have to try non=leathal methods or not let the cows graze on public lands unattended for days.Maybe the cows should have collars and not wolves? It was just awful what they did to the Bassin Butte pack,by WS, the Cottonwood pack,by hunters, and all the other wolves that died by the hands of men..

Rita…..So many wolves have died since this madness started. Before they were delisted, wolves were already being killed by WS but that wasn’t enough for these people. Now they just want to slaughter them. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It’s just pathological hatred for a species, it happened once before and it’s happening again, history literally repeating itself.

Larry….I don’t think it really matters if it’s WS, SSS or a trophy hunt. it’s still dead and it died horribly. The point I wanted to make is this is what wolf hunting looks like. The pics we usually see are the wolf cleaned up with their killers smiling over them. It’s all ugly.

Larry – the wolf is B160, the alpha male of the Morgan Creek Pack. I was driving to Challis for a USFS meeting about grazing issues, when I saw the wolf along Hwy 75 near Peach Ck, which is upstream from Clayton several miles. The wolf was still warm when I walked out to it. The shooter had been on Hwy 75 and the tracks indicated the wolf had been chasing an elk. The wolf was gut shot. Probably intentionally. I took photos & then went to call IDFG. Two conservation officers were actually close by & they came and investigated & loaded up the dead wolf. No suspects. No leads. There are several wolf haters within a few miles of where this wolf was shot. IDFG identified the wolf from his radio collar number, which had not worked for several years.

Rita – no, it wasn’t a Basin Butte wolf. It was B160, alpha male of the Morgan Creek Pack. It was poached and left to lay along hwy 75. I came upon it driving to Challis one morning. The asshole that shot it is typical of the wolf-haters that intentionally gut shoot wolves every chance they get.

The only way forward is union. If wolf / wildlife advocates do not unite and speak out about what is happening, most people out there will not take any notice. I’m pretty sure most of the American people would support the wolves if they knew about the assault that is about to be committed against them. What makes our case stronger is also the fact that politicians are now targeting the ESA alone in order to get what they want. Basically, science is being completely disregarded in the name of a minority’s interests. This is very dangerous indeed not only for wolves, but for other protected species that might be targeted in the future. If people do not take effective action against this, the list of wildlife crimes will only grow longer.
My advice to you would be to contact newspapers (especially the ones that run environmental sections/blogs) and try to get them to cover our side of the story (and not the anti-wolf crowd for a change). Be persistent. If people knew what the demagogues in Washington are trying to do with the legislation, I’m pretty sure they would not accept it.
I’ll give you an example. Recently here in the UK, the conservative government came up with a proposition in Parliament to sell large portions of our ancient forests to the private sector (conservatives always want to sell everything to the private sector no matter where you are in this planet…). Thankfully, the story was picked up by the media and they sank their teeth into it. The British public went up in arms against it. A petition was set up online (signed by over half a million people). The politicians were given a good grilling by journalists and they just could not defend their proposals. In the end, the idea to sell the forests had to be dropped and the politicians behind it had to apologise with their tails between their legs admitting they “got it wrong”.
I know times are difficult (especially after the bogus settlement offered by the wildlife groups) and I don’t blame people for feeling hopeless. The very thought of seeing wolves brutally killed both makes my blood boil with outrage and breaks my heart at the same time. They have suffered enough already throughout history. However, this is the times to act if the wolves are to have a chance to survive.
Unite people! Get the word out to the press. Set up new petitions online. Pester your representatives in the congress once again. Please don’t let the fight die down. Turn your darkest hour into you finest hour. You will have my support all the way.

This is what is so very frustrating to us wolf/wildlife advocates. We have written letters to the editors to all the major newspapers, signed petitions, written our elected representatives, called them again and again and it just seems the madness continues. And now when we need to be a united front, what happens? The desertion of wolves by the ” big ten”. I have never been so angry in my life. The apathy in this country is very disturbing.

I completely understand your deep frustration and anger. I know that people like you have already done so much for the wolves. However, the only way forward is to continue fighting for them somehow. Otherwise, what will be the other option??
This is indeed a very difficult time. One of the consequences of this settlement in court is that is has also undermined people’s efforts as wolf advocates. People are feeling betrayed and hopeless to the core. However, it is also the time for the remaining advocates out there to regroup and carry on fighting.
Please don’t get me wrong. It is not my intention to be here telling people what to do or how to feel. But I deeply care for the wolves too and, believe me, I wish I could do more for them right now.
If it can be of any interest to anyone here, I found this petition today sponsored by the Wild Earth Guardians group. It is called “Don’t give up on American wolves”. I’m not quite sure where these signatures are going to be sent to. Ideally, they should be sent to the Congress.

vallondon…I put the petition up on the blog today. They are almost at their target of 5000 signatures. Keep signing everyone!!

The settlement was a complete disaster for wolves and wolf advocates. It took the steam right out of everyone. Not only were we battling the anti-wolf forces but now this “settlement” had succeeded in dividing the pro wolf movement. The timing was really awful too. I think Judge Molloy would have ruled on the 10j already and now it’s been put on the back burner. Just a terrible development for wolves.

It’s because wolves are locked up in states that are no friend to them. We have literally zero allies in the three wolf states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. That’s the problem. Wolves are being demonized in these three states. We have to change that. The ranchers and hunters rule in the Northern Rockies and they don’t want wolves here. Our voices are being drowned out by theirs. They get the press, for godsakes Toby Bridges was quoted in a Missoulian piece the day Judge Molloy was holding hearings on the “settlement” and 10j. Someone that discussed killing wolves with Xylitol on his website. I find that mind boggling.

I think the apathy is due to economics. Many people are hurting financially and are too busy trying to stay alive to advocate for wildlife but I also think most people have no idea how bad things are in the Northern Rockies for wolves. The information coming from the local press is very biased and slanted toward the fish and game agencies “talking points”. Yet wolves continue to show tremendous restraint, even as human encroachment into their habitat continues unabated. Wolves are the least dangerous of all large carnivores but their very close cousins, who they share 99.8% of the their DNA with continue to bite and kill people every year. I’m a dog lover but those are the facts. From 2006 to 2008 there were 88 fatal dog bite attacks and millions of dog bites. Yet wolves have never killed anyone in the lower 48 in a hundred years and just two fatalities in North America, which remain controversial.to this day. Still wolves are demonized even though dogs are far more dangerous to humans. It’s all a matter of perception and wolves seem to come out on the short end of the stick every time.

But we fight on and I’m encouraged by the growing grass roots wolf movement that is developing.

vallondon…..We’ve been at this for two years since their delisting in 2009. It’s been a long haul but the grass roots wolf movement is picking up steam, against all odds. I can think of just one state politician in Montana that may be pro wolf. The governors of all three states, plus the US Senators and Representatives want wolf hunts. We are virtually alone on the political front but we have a large and growing grass roots movement. It’s really giving me hope in this darkest of times. It’s encouraging to see so many wolf supporters speaking out. The wolf has become our touchstone representing freedom and places that are still truly wild, just as the wolf is the scapegoat for the anti wolfers.

We are building a grass roots wolf movement and finally our voices are being heard.

States that allow the hunting of any ANIMAL, for profit is a broken system (Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Alaska).
Think about it, people have bank accounts Animals don’t…
If you were a true hunter, you’d challenge the most ruthless and cunning pray in the world – Mankind!
People spend there time thinking (not everyone, there are those of us with common sense) that this land is there land.
The line in the song goes “This land was made for you and me…”

Why do people have to be so cruel? There is no need for it. It is sick and evil, and as you said, would they do this to their beloved dog? They most probably have a hunting dog of some sort, and they shoot wolves for fun? If there were no wolves, nobody would have any dogs.

They say that a picture speaks a thousand words, but these photographs need only one to describe them: Barbarism.

The hunting of wolves is illogical. Partially founded upon a false belief that mankind knows what is best for the world, that everything needs to be controlled by them. The act appears to bring a twisted sense comfort to the murderers, believing themselves greater than the animal that could run circles around them, in both aptitude and morality.
Stupidity, maliciousness, greed, arrogance. The worst qualities of mankind are found in the leisure hunting culture, with individuals who have the personality traits and behaviours similar to those commonly found in serial killers.

I am so tired of these people killing our beautiful wildlife. Everything you said is true. And now we have the CEO of GO DADDY putting his elephant killing video up on youtube. They just can’t stop themselves from showing off their poor victims. They make me sick.

OUR ELECTED ANARCHISTS, are defying our so called government (like Hitler) to force their will upon wildlife, (like the millions murdered by Hitler), and they call themselves patriots.
Fascist, Khmer Rouge maybe but not patriots…

I thank mother nature herself for just making me an environmental activist, non politically aligned except to her party.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Wolf 253, the beloved Yellowstone Druid wolf named Limpy, who was shot and killed in March 08, on the very day ESA protections were lifted for the gray wolf, by the then Bush Administration.